FEBRUARY 1998 SW175A SW176A Compact Bidirectional AutoSwitch B A ER POW UAL R PRINTE MAN B PRINTER D C CT SELE B T l tiona ec Bi-dir itch pact Com Auto Sw A RESE tional i-direc act B ch CompAuto Swit C D A CUSTOMER SUPPORT INFORMATION Order toll-free in the U.S.: Call 877-877-BBOX (outside U.S. call 724-746-5500) FREE technical support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: Call 724-746-5500 or fax 724-746-0746 Mailing address: Black Box Corporation, 1000 Park Drive, Lawrence, PA 15055-1018 Web site: www.blackbox.com • E-mail: info@blackbox.com COMPACT BIDIRECTIONAL AUTOSWITCH FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION AND INDUSTRY CANADA RADIO FREQUENCY INTERFERENCE STATEMENTS This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio-frequency energy, and if not installed and used properly, that is, in strict accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, may cause interference to radio communication. It has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A computing device in accordance with the specifications in Subpart B of Part 15 of FCC rules, which are designed to provide reasonable protection against such interference when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment. Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely to cause interference, in which case the user at his own expense will be required to take whatever measures may be necessary to correct the interference. Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment. This digital apparatus does not exceed the Class A limits for radio noise emission from digital apparatus set out in the Radio Interference Regulation of Industry Canada. Le présent appareil numérique n’émet pas de bruits radioélectriques dépassant les limites applicables aux appareils numériques de classe A prescrites dans le Règlement sur le brouillage radioélectrique publié par Industrie Canada. 1 COMPACT BIDIRECTIONAL AUTOSWITCH NORMAS OFICIALES MEXICANAS (NOM) ELECTRICAL SAFETY STATEMENT INSTRUCCIONES DE SEGURIDAD 1. Todas las instrucciones de seguridad y operación deberán ser leídas antes de que el aparato eléctrico sea operado. 2. Las instrucciones de seguridad y operación deberán ser guardadas para referencia futura. 3. Todas las advertencias en el aparato eléctrico y en sus instrucciones de operación deben ser respetadas. 4. Todas las instrucciones de operación y uso deben ser seguidas. 5. El aparato eléctrico no deberá ser usado cerca del agua—por ejemplo, cerca de la tina de baño, lavabo, sótano mojado o cerca de una alberca, etc.. 6. El aparato eléctrico debe ser usado únicamente con carritos o pedestales que sean recomendados por el fabricante. 7. El aparato eléctrico debe ser montado a la pared o al techo sólo como sea recomendado por el fabricante. 8. Servicio—El usuario no debe intentar dar servicio al equipo eléctrico más allá a lo descrito en las instrucciones de operación. Todo otro servicio deberá ser referido a personal de servicio calificado. 9. El aparato eléctrico debe ser situado de tal manera que su posición no interfiera su uso. La colocación del aparato eléctrico sobre una cama, sofá, alfombra o superficie similar puede bloquea la ventilación, no se debe colocar en libreros o gabinetes que impidan el flujo de aire por los orificios de ventilación. 2 COMPACT BIDIRECTIONAL AUTOSWITCH 10. El equipo eléctrico deber ser situado fuera del alcance de fuentes de calor como radiadores, registros de calor, estufas u otros aparatos (incluyendo amplificadores) que producen calor. 11. El aparato eléctrico deberá ser connectado a una fuente de poder sólo del tipo descrito en el instructivo de operación, o como se indique en el aparato. 12. Precaución debe ser tomada de tal manera que la tierra fisica y la polarización del equipo no sea eliminada. 13. Los cables de la fuente de poder deben ser guiados de tal manera que no sean pisados ni pellizcados por objetos colocados sobre o contra ellos, poniendo particular atención a los contactos y receptáculos donde salen del aparato. 14. El equipo eléctrico debe ser limpiado únicamente de acuerdo a las recomendaciones del fabricante. 15. En caso de existir, una antena externa deberá ser localizada lejos de las lineas de energia. 16. El cable de corriente deberá ser desconectado del cuando el equipo no sea usado por un largo periodo de tiempo. 17. Cuidado debe ser tomado de tal manera que objectos liquidos no sean derramados sobre la cubierta u orificios de ventilación. 18. Servicio por personal calificado deberá ser provisto cuando: A: El cable de poder o el contacto ha sido dañado; u B: Objectos han caído o líquido ha sido derramado dentro del aparato; o C: El aparato ha sido expuesto a la lluvia; o D: El aparato parece no operar normalmente o muestra un cambio en su desempeño; o E: El aparato ha sido tirado o su cubierta ha sido dañada. 3 COMPACT BIDIRECTIONAL AUTOSWITCH TRADEMARKS USED IN THIS MANUAL Centronics is a registered trademark of Centronics Corporation. DeskJet, Hewlett Packard, and LaserJet are registered trademarks of Hewlett-Packard. Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation. Any other trademarks mentioned in this manual are acknowledged to be the property of the trademark owners. 4 COMPACT BIDIRECTIONAL AUTOSWITCH Specifications SW175A No. of Computers Input Interface Input Port Selection Weight No. of Printers Max. Transfer Rate Output Interface Form Feed Time-Out Operating Temp. SW176A 2 4 (2) DB25 (4) DB25 Auto Auto/Manual 0.25 lb. (0.1 kg) 0.5 lb. (0.2 kg) 1 2 MB per second (1) DB25 Selectable 5, 10, 20, or 40 seconds 41 to 104°F (5 to 40°C) Compatible Printers: Hewlett Packard® • LaserJet® 4P, 4Plus, 4LC, 4V, 4VC, 4MV, 4SiMX, 4MP, 4ML, 4Si, 5, 5M, 5N, 5P, 5L, 5MP, 5Si, 5SiMX, 6P, 6MP • DeskJet® 600, 600C, 660C, 820Cxi, 820Cse, 850C, 855C Canon® • Laser 430W, 460W • Color BJC-610 Okidata® • Laser OL-600e (non Windows 95), OL-610 Panasonic® • Laser EPL-5600, EPL-5500 • Color Stylus color IIs Lexmark™ • Laser 4039 10 Plus 5 COMPACT BIDIRECTIONAL AUTOSWITCH Description The Compact Bidirectional AutoSwitch allows 2 or 4 users to share one IEEE 1284 printer. The Switch also lets you control the printer remotely using the printer software (which is supplied with your printer). You can change printer settings, as well as receive printer messages like “printer busy,” “printer out of paper,” and “paper jam” directly from your computer. The Switch is compatible with Windows 3.x and Windows 95, is IEEE 1284 compliant, and supports IEEE 1284 Nibble, Centronics®, Bi-Tronics, ECP, and EPP modes. 6 COMPACT BIDIRECTIONAL AUTOSWITCH Installation Installation Procedure 1. Turn off all computers and the printer. 2. Set the DIP switches to the proper position according to the DIP-Switch Setting Chart (on the next page). 3. Use the standard “straight-through” or IEEE 1284 DB25 M/M cables to connect the computers to the AutoSwitch. 4. Use an IEEE 1284 DB25/Centronics 36 printer cable to connect the AutoSwitch to the IEEE 1284 printer. 5. Turn on the computers and the printer. The computers are now ready to share the printer through the AutoSwitch. 7 COMPACT BIDIRECTIONAL AUTOSWITCH DIP-Switch Settings There are four DIP switches located at the side of the AutoSwitch. Switch 1 controls form feed, 2 and 3 set the the timeout length, and 4 is not used. The tables below show you the DIP-switch settings for enabling or disabling form feed, and for setting the time-out for 5, 10, 20, or 40 seconds. 1 FORM FEED 2 3 TIME-OUT ON OFF ENABLE DISABLE ON ON OFF OFF ON OFF ON OFF 5 sec. 10 sec. 20 sec. 40 sec. The Reset Button The RESET button resets the AutoSwitch if it locks up. Note that print jobs may be lost if the button is pressed during printing. 8 COMPACT BIDIRECTIONAL AUTOSWITCH The Power Adapter The AutoSwitch is usually powered by the signals drawn from computers and the printer. A power supply is not required under such conditions. However, if the peripherals are not able to supply enough power to the AutoSwitch, a 9-VDC, 500-mA power supply may be required to operate the switch properly. 9 COMPACT BIDIRECTIONAL AUTOSWITCH Troubleshooting If Windows® is used on the computer, set the timeout to 40 seconds. This will accommodate the longer time that Windows needs to request information from the printer. Also, if a large document or graphic is printed through the Switch, a longer timeout, such as 20 or 40 seconds, may be required for the Switch to operate properly. NOTE We recommend not running a DOS window from Windows 95. 10 COMPACT BIDIRECTIONAL AUTOSWITCH Calling Black Box If you determine that your AutoSwitch is malfunctioning, do not attempt to alter or repair the unit. It contains no user-serviceable parts. Contact Black Box at 724-746-5500. Before you do, make a record of the history of the problem. We will be able to provide more efficient and accurate assistance if you have a complete description, including: • the nature and duration of the problem. • when the problem occurs. • the components involved in the problem. • any particular application that, when used, appears to create the problem or make it worse. 11 COMPACT BIDIRECTIONAL AUTOSWITCH Shipping and Packaging If you need to transport or ship your AutoSwitch: • Package it carefully. We recommend that you use the original container. • If you are shipping the AutoSwitch for repair, make sure you include everything that came in the original package. Before you ship, contact Black Box to get a Return Authorization (RA) number. 12 © Copyright 1998. Black Box Corporation. All rights reserved. 1000 Park Drive • Lawrence, PA 15055-1018 • 724-746-5500 • Fax 724-746-0746